The Observatorio para la Libertad Religiosa y de Conciencia reported twelve attacks on religious freedom in the autonomous community of Asturias on 16 September 2026. According to the Spanish observatory, that is twice as many as in 2024, when six cases were recorded. The updated regional tally forms part of the nationwide annual review for 2025.
The report lists different categories of attack. These include damage to religious premises and incidents classified by the observatory as “escarnio” (mocking or derisive treatment) or “vejaciones” (harassment). Regional coverage cites, among other things, a depiction shown at a demonstration on 8 March 2025 in Gijón of the Virgen de Covadonga in a mocking light. The incident was publicly criticised and led to complaints; the observatory cites it as an example of the denigration of religious symbols. The inclusion of such incidents in religious-freedom statistics follows the organisation’s methodology, which counts targeted denigration of symbols of faith and harassment of believers as attacks.
Nationwide, the observatory reports a total of Spain for the whole of 306 attacks on religious freedom in 2025 – the highest figure since records began in 2012. The report sees increases particularly in the categories of “laicismo beligerante”, attacks on religious sites and direct “vejaciones” against believers. The figures for Asturias reflect this trend, although the absolute number remains comparatively low. Observers also point out that a small number of high-profile incidents in a region can strongly shape perceptions and carry considerable weight in the statistics.
In individual cases, the allegations led to complaints and public statements. As things stand, there are no final, confirmed court rulings across the board on the examples cited. It is therefore important to distinguish between incidents documented by the observatory, accounts in the media and any subsequent legal assessments.
The figures published now clarify earlier reports: the observatory recorded six attacks in Asturias in 2024. The latest overview for 2025 therefore provides a comparison showing a marked increase and reignites debate about the treatment of religious symbols in public spaces, the limits of freedom of expression and protection from discrimination.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).